Building and construction resources
This page has a range of resources to help industry adapt to our reforms and deliver quality building work.
Key resources
| Document title | Description |
|---|---|
| Guidance material for certifiers | Outlining how to approach ‘staged building work’ and how to select the applicable edition of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) |
| Design and Building Practitioner Act resources | Including downloadable forms and guidance material to meet your new obligations. |
| Building Defects Library | Lists the most common building defects for certifiers, councils and other relevant industry members. By making these available in one place it will help quicken the drafting of formal communication to rectify defects. |
| Project Remediate Pattern Book | Contains a guidance document and technical drawings to help consultants replace combustible cladding. |
| Building certification work in NSW | Reporting on audits conducted in 2021 of local council and private certifier work in NSW. Includes practice advice for 13 areas where practices and procedures were found to be substandard. |
| Practice standard for registered certifiers - Volume 1 - New residential apartment buildings (PDF 2.03MB) | The Practice Standard for registered certifiers sets out the conduct expected of you when carrying out building certification work. |
| Practice standard for registered certifiers - Volume 2 - Class 1a Buildings (PDF 7.74MB) | The Practice Standard for registered certifiers sets out the conduct expected of you when carrying out building certification work. |
Sample construction contracts
These sample construction contracts, also known as model clauses, support industry to adapt to their new declaration obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.
They are provided as information only and not as legal advice, and they do not address contract matters other than the Design and Building Practitioners Act. Contracting parties should obtain legal advice about including the use of the model clauses in their construction contracts.
| Document title | Description |
|---|---|
| Broken promises, blame games and balconies | An interim report about the defects experienced at the Otto 2 development in Rosebery, NSW. |
| Construct NSW - improving governance and contracts | A research report on contracts for the design and construction of large residential apartment buildings. |
| The house with no piers | Review of the issues relating to alleged defects in the construction of a home and the related complaints and dispute process. |
| Case study - Murrant vs Building Professionals Board (PDF 198.11KB) | A case study to help certifiers understand their duties as public officials, and the standards to which they are held. |
| Case study - Wang vs Building Professionals Board (PDF 198.16KB) | A case study to help certifiers understand their duties as public officials, and the standards to which they are held. |
These guidance materials have been developed by industry groups with input from the Building Commission NSW.
| Document title | Description |
|---|---|
| NATSPEC NSW Class 2 Reference Specification | Providing information on minimum standards for class 2 buildings, and supporting practitioners to identify the products and techniques that are fit for purpose |
| Guide for design practitioners and engineers | On the Design and Building Practitioners Act (developed by Consult Australia, Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects) |
| Class of building surveyor -unrestricted: knowledge, skills and experience guide | Describes the knowledge, skills & experience building surveyors must demonstrate to be registered in the class of building surveyor - unrestricted. |
| Class of building surveyor-restricted (all classes of building): knowledge, skills and experience guide | Describes the knowledge, skills & experience building surveyors must demonstrate to be registered in the class of building surveyor - restricted (all classes of buildings). |
| Class of building surveyor -restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings): knowledge, skills and experience guide | Describes the knowledge, skills & experience building surveyors must demonstrate to be registered in the class of building surveyor - restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings). |
| Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Guidelines for Certifiers (PDF 296.98KB) | The Continuing Professional Development Guidelines for Certifiers issued under Schedule 4 Clause 1 of the Building and Development Certifiers Regulation 2020. |